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Invade (Lycan Wars Book 3) - A. M. Ellis

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Chapter One

Double Cross

Kira wrestled against the hold of the vampire Demelza, who pulled her toward the open door of a large, box-shaped building. They were back in the city; she and three vampire guards: Demelza, Baine, and Alastair. Exactly where, Kira couldn’t tell in the night dark as pitch. Where are you taking me? Kira asked for the hundredth time. And for the hundredth time, she received no answer from the pale-faced vampires.

She glanced up at the top of the building and squinted. Was this where Kip would meet Demelza? Was he on his way to help rescue her? It’s too dark to tell. And she hoped he’d stay away. The vampires were armed with guns that shot some sort of bullet that even Jace had to retreat from. In her vision, Kip stood transfixed before Demelza. He wasn’t even fighting!

She crossed the threshold into the building. The cool temperature hit her dress — still wet from her blood — which clung to her skin, and she shivered. She coughed, her throat scratched from the heavy, particle-rich air. The scent was strong, like metal. I’m in a warehouse.

I don’t even know if Jace got word to Kip about me. The thought of Jace brought fresh tears to her eyes. She wasn’t sure if he was dead or alive. If he returned to Kata’s compound, would Kata have had him killed? There wasn’t any way he’d go back to Roman and the Bana pack…would he? If Roman still controlled the city, then he would be safe. Would he trust his father if that was his only option?

I will come for you…

At the sound of metal scraping against metal, Kira looked behind her to see the door closing, shutting out the last view of the world. What if he had followed her here and was watching from afar? She watched the door shut out the last view of the world. Tears poured down her cheeks.

I don’t see him, Demelza said.

Ah, but I hear him, Alastair answered.

He said the final trial is ready. I can’t wait to watch, said a gleeful Baine who rubbed his hands together.

As long as he can start production on the weapons immediately. We need to take the city before they arrive, Demelza said.

They? Kira yelped as Demelza tugged on her arm. They were on the move in the darkness.

I can’t believe we’re about to pull this off. Have you heard of this ever happening in the history of our kind? Baine asked. It’s unprecedented. They’ll be telling our story for thousands of years. Anything anyone has done before is forgotten. We’ll live forever—

In infamy, Demelza muttered.

We haven’t yet begun to pull anything off, Alastair answered. And no, nothing like this has ever been accomplished, and likely won’t. I hate to remind us of our reality, but we are a hunted few. There is no escaping the Order. No one ever has.

But we’ll soon be many, Alastair, Baine argued. Once we have an army of vampires under our control, the Order will have no choice to but leave us alone.

Kira listened with great interest. A hunted few… You’re on the run from someone? she whispered her question. Silence greeted her. The Order. Whoever they are, they must be in charge. The vampires aren’t here to start a war with lycans. They’re here to make a final stand.

A door opened in front of them and a bright light shone into the room as a guide. Ah, there you are! I was afraid you would miss out.

Kira peered at a shadowy figure in a doorway surrounded by light from behind. Welcome back, the male voice continued. And…who is this?

This is no one, Demelza answered sharply.

Kira couldn’t make out the expression of the man until they were a couple of feet from him. He appeared a bit pale, his eyes shifting nervously from one vamp to the next. He was tall, with sandy blond hair and glasses. He looked vaguely familiar. Well, I’m pleased to meet you, whoever you are. He held out a hand to her. Kira hesitated to greet him. Was this man crazy? Did he not know what these creatures were? He’s behaving like it’s nothing to consort with vampires! He continued to wait, and Kira reluctantly reached to accept it.

I’m Kira, she answered and shook his hand. The man’s thin lips broke into a shaky smile; his eyes softened as he held her gaze. She didn’t know why, but her heart suddenly warmed to him. If she was going to live through this, she would need someone to trust.

Come now, there’s no need for violence. She looks… Linus’s gaze spanned the length of her dress. His eyes widened with alarm. She’s hurt! I’ll call a doctor. He reached inside his pants pocket and pulled out a cell phone.

"She was hurt, but she’s not any longer, Demelza said. Put away your phone. No calls."

Linus’s gaze volleyed between Kira and Demelza and he reluctantly placed his cell phone back into his pocket. Well, if we’re all okay—

Can we please see the test? I haven’t fed in hours and I’m hungry, Baine whined. His eyes sparked with interest the longer he stared at Linus. Then his gaze narrowed on Linus’s neck.

Linus’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He cleared his throat. Of course. Follow me. Demelza dragged Kira forward, and Linus put out a hand for her to stop. Please? Allow me. He angled his arm out. Demelza reluctantly released Kira with a look of annoyance.

Kira rubbed her sore arm with her other hand, grateful to be free from her captor’s unrelenting grasp. Demelza’s eyes remained trained on her like she was waiting for Kira to comply. Only after Kira gripped Linus’s outstretched arm did Demelza turn her back.

Are you all right? Linus whispered into her ear.

Startled, Kira’s head snapped up. His gaze was apologetic as he waited for her response. The man behaved like a gentleman, but he was in league with the vampires. The chance she could trust him diminished the longer she considered him. Kira averted her gaze to her surroundings.

You don’t have to be afraid of me, Linus spoke again. Whatever I can do to help you, I will.

Kira smirked. She met his gaze once more. Really? Can you help me get out of here?

Linus blinked a few times and looked away sheepishly.

Then keep your disingenuous offers to yourself, she snapped a bit too loudly as the vampires halted and faced her and Linus. Kira bit her lip and stared at the floor. Just a few moments before she had found the look in his eyes to be authentic. There was something strangely familiar about this man, but he’s still working with vampires! And she was beginning to get angry at the situation.

Patience, Kira… If you’re too hasty, then you’ll ruin the artifact. Her father’s admonishment, when she was just a small girl working on clearing the dirt away from a piece of history she’d just discovered, cooled her temper. Kira blinked back new tears over the memory of the dig where she’d found her first artifact. You don’t know what else is beneath the surface. With a little time and steady hands, you’ll have your prize.

Linus, why don’t you stop talking to her and start explaining what you have for us, Baine said.

Linus cleared his throat and released Kira. Of course. He stepped forward and continued to lead them toward a collection of computer monitors, where a handful of people in white lab coats bustled around, busy at whatever science-y tasks. As they grew closer, Kira noticed something tall that loomed behind a curtain.

Kira’s heartbeat sped up. Her eyes darted around for any way to escape. She didn’t care that her captors were vampires whose reflexes were as quick as Jace’s. She had to at least try, if only to keep her dwindling will alive. Instead of seeing an exit sign, she only saw more monitors, a few large metal tubs, and massive machinery pieces. Who was this guy? What was he making?

The vampires stopped a few feet from the workers in lab coats, who didn’t seem to mind being in close proximity to bloodsuckers. They remained intensely focused on their work. We’ve made some positive strides in the advancement of the weaponry, Linus was saying. With the successful field test you conducted yesterday, we’ve been able to move up the date of production. We’ve also captured another live one to test the effects of stress and heartbeat rhythm on how rapidly the silver takes effect.

Field test? Silver can kill lycans. Was what Linus meant? Had the vampires tested some sort of weapon? Kira’s eyes again found the curtain that circled something hidden from view. Had Linus captured a lycan? She couldn’t help the feelings of anticipation that built as they all waited for Linus to continue with his presentation. Part of Kira hoped Roman was behind the white sheet.

Yes, the ammunition was quite effective. Even if the bullets didn’t strike the heart, they greatly reduced the movement of the lycans and we were able to get off a few more rounds into their flesh. The effects were nearly instantaneous, as you had promised, Demelza said.

Linus moved around a table that supported a few monitors and keyboards manned by his employees. With one hand, he grasped the hanging white sheet and flung it aside. Kira gasped at the sight of a massive, fully transformed lycan, which was chained to a table angled so that it was upright. The lycan’s chest rose and fell in jerky movements. Its head hung limp with his snout open and its tongue loosely dangling.

Subject Echo. He’s been given a special serum to keep him from transitioning back to human form. Echo is much older than the previous four. Age, we’ve discovered, acts as a counteragent against the silver. Older lycans appear to be able to fight its effects, whereas younger lycans succumb much sooner to the same dosage. This has been an interesting development. We’ve kept this one alive to continue our study and gather more data on dosage effectiveness.